Is Staging Your Home Worth the Cost?

When you’re selling your home, first impressions matter. If you want to put your best foot forward, staging your home — the process of decorating your home to be attractive to potential buyers — can make a significant difference. Here’s an in-depth look at what staging involves, its benefits and how much it might cost sellers in the Twin Cities metro.​

What Does Staging Your Home Entail?

Staging your home is about preparing it to be shown in its best light to potential buyers. This process goes beyond simple cleaning and decorating. It's a deliberate method designed to showcase your home's strengths, minimize its weaknesses, and appeal to the broadest possible audience. Here’s a more detailed look at what staging your home entails.

Decluttering
One of the first steps of staging is to remove clutter from the home. Clutter can make a space feel cramped and more chaotic, which can distract buyers from seeing its true potential.

Depersonalizing
When selling your home, the goal is to create a neutral environment where buyers can envision themselves living. Depersonalizing (and decluttering) helps accomplish this by removing personal decor, items and memorabilia to create a blank canvas. While your home should still feel warm and inviting, it shouldn't reflect your individual tastes too strongly.

Decorating & Rearranging
Decorating for staging is more than just making a home look nice — it involves strategic choices that enhance the space. This could include:

• Painting: Applying fresh coats of neutral paint to help spaces look brighter and bigger.
• Furniture Arrangement: Rearranging existing furniture or bringing in new pieces to improve the flow of your home can make rooms appear more spacious and functional.
• Light Fixtures: Updating old or outdated light fixtures can instantly modernize and uplift a space’s aesthetic.
• Decorative Elements: Adding carefully chosen accessories such as vases, books, cushions and throw pillows to style each room. These elements should complement the space without overwhelming it.

Professional Touches
Professional stagers bring their expertise in interior design and real estate to ensure that your home is staged to appeal to current market trends and buyer preferences. They might:

• Bring in Furniture & Decor: Stagers often bring in stylish furniture and decor that suits the house’s style and layout.
• Artwork & Curtains: These are used to add color, texture and warmth to rooms. Art pieces are selected to complement the space without dominating it, and curtains can be used to frame views and soften windows.
• Enhancing Curb Appeal: The outside of your home is as important as its interior. Stagers might suggest minor landscaping, painting front doors or adding outdoor furniture to enhance curb appeal.

Strategic Enhancements
Beyond the basics, strategic enhancements like using aroma and lighting help ensure your home smells fresh and is well-lit for viewings. For online listings, virtual staging options are also available, which digitally insert furniture and decor into photos of your empty home. 

​Virtual Staging
​In addition to cleaning and decluttering your space, virtual staging is another important part of the staging process — especially for vacant homes. Professionals like those at Golden Homes Group MN will add a few small touches around the house, then have a photographer add virtually staged rooms of the main living areas to include in the online photo gallery.
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The Benefits of Staging Your Home

Staging transforms how a space is presented, helping potential buyers envision what their own lives might look like if they purchase your home. It showcases the best qualities of your home and increases its overall appeal, which can make it more likely to sell and bring in more lucrative offers. According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Profile of Home Staging, 81% of agents noted that staging helped buyers visualize the property as their own future home. 

Other benefits of staging your home include:

• Increased Appeal: Well-staged homes are often more photogenic and appealing in listing photos and videos, which are critical in today's digital age — 96% of homebuyers start their search online.
• Faster Sales: Homes that are staged typically spend less time on the market. According to the NAR, 48% of sellers’ agents reported that staging a home greatly decreases the amount of time the home is on the market.
• Higher Offers: Staging boosts the perceived value of your home, which can lead to higher offers — between 1% and 5% more compared to similar homes on the market that aren't staged.

If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of staging, the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA) has a staging calculator you can use to see the benefits of staging your home before listing it. This tool allows you to input your home's details and carrying costs to estimate how much quicker your home could sell and your potential savings if you decide to stage it. 

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Is Staging My Home Worth It?

The cost of staging varies widely depending on the size and condition of your home, as well as your local market. Professional staging services can run from a few hundred to several thousand dollars. However, the return on investment (ROI) can be significant. Staging your home might increase the selling price enough to not only cover the cost but also provide a substantial return. Consider it an investment in selling your home quickly and for a higher price.

If you have questions about staging your home, experienced realtors like Sheri Wessel and Melany Thelander can provide expert advice tailored to your specific needs and market conditions. As seasoned real estate professionals, they can guide you through the various aspects of staging, from the initial consultation to the final execution. Get started today.

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Tips & Tricks for DIY Staging

Staging your home doesn't always require a big budget or professional help. While the expertise of a professional stager can undoubtedly enhance the appeal of your property, many sellers successfully stage their homes using their own resources. Here's how you can save money by staging your home yourself while still achieving professional-looking results.

Utilize Existing Decor
Leverage what you already have to avoid the expense of buying new items. Take a fresh look at your furniture and decor through the eyes of a potential buyer.

• Rearrange Furniture: Create a welcoming and open space by rearranging your furniture. This may involve removing oversized pieces to make rooms look bigger or rearranging to highlight certain features, such as a fireplace or a beautiful view.
• Refresh Decor: Swap out personalized decorations like family photos for more neutral items that might appeal to a wider audience. Consider changing things like bed linens and throw pillows to freshen up rooms inexpensively.

Borrow or Rent
If your current furniture and decorations aren't suitable, consider borrowing pieces from friends or family to enhance the look of key areas without the cost of purchasing new items. Renting furniture is another cost-effective option, especially for large pieces that make a significant impact, such as a nice dining table or a modern sofa for the living room.

Focus on Key Rooms
Not every room in your home needs the same level of attention. Focus your efforts on the rooms that are most important to potential buyers: the living room, kitchen and primary bedroom.

• Living Room: Often, this is the first room buyers see, so make it inviting with comfortable seating and good lighting.
• Kitchen: Clear countertops, organize cabinets, and maybe add a few new touches like modern cabinet knobs or a stylish teapot.
• Primary Bedroom: Aim for a clean and relaxing atmosphere. Consider neutral bedding and simple decor that can appeal to everyone.

DIY Projects
​There are some simple do-it-yourself projects you can undertake to enhance your home's appeal without professional skills or significant investment.

• Paint: A fresh coat of paint can transform any space, making it appear brighter and more inviting. In addition to painting the walls of a room, consider painting ceilings and trim if they show signs of wear or discoloration.
• Update Fixtures: Changing outdated hardware on cabinets and doors and replacing old light fixtures can modernize your home quickly and at a relatively low cost. 
• Deep Cleaning: A clean home makes a strong impression. Deep cleaning your home should include washing windows, shampooing carpets, cleaning tile grout and making kitchens and bathrooms spotless. Pay special attention to removing odors, pet hair and any signs of mold or mildew, as these can be turn-offs for potential buyers.

Ready to Sell Your Home?

If you're considering selling your home and want to ensure it stands out in the market, don't hesitate to reach out to Golden Homes Group MN. With years of real estate experience and insider knowledge, we can maximize your home’s appeal and value. Contact us today to get started! Whether you need full staging services or just some expert tips, we're here to help.

Sheri Wessel
Office: 651-379-5252
Mobile: 651-270-7157
Email: [email protected] 

Melaney Thelander
Office: 651-379-5252
Mobile: 651-500-8789​
Email: [email protected] 

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